O’Gorman speaks to empty Dáil after TD no-show at start of IWD statements
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Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman was left speaking to an empty Chamber after no TDs showed up at the start of a Dáil discussion on International Women’s Day.
The Minister was forced to begin his statement with no one present on either the Government or Opposition benches on Tuesday.
Sinn Féin TD Rose Conway Walsh was the first to show up and was followed by party colleague Louise O’Reilly and Labour leader Ivana Bacik.
However, Mr O’Gorman remained alone on the Government benches for much of the allocated speaking time.
According to the Dáil schedule, statements on International Women’s Day are due to take place between 4pm and 6.27pm.
Standing alone, Mr O'Gorman was forced to begin his speech by "wishing everyone, especially my female colleagues, a happy International Women's Day."
He told the Dáil that his Department’s mission is to work towards a "fair, equal and inclusive society, where rights are respected, and where everyone can reach their full potential".
"In particular, empowering women and girls is a key priority of Ireland’s domestic and foreign policy, with the overarching goal of creating a fairer and more sustainable society."
Mr O'Gorman said the Programme for Government and acknowledges the need for greater diversity and gender equality and stated that that the coalition has made strides on women's health.
"Investment of €140 million since 2020 has enabled several milestone developments. We have implemented a free contraception scheme for women aged between 17 and 31 and a publicly funded assisted human reproduction treatment scheme accessed via six regional fertility hubs. A total of a 16 of a planned 20 see-and-treat ambulatory gynaecology clinics are operational, as are six specialist menopause clinics.
"Two specialist endometriosis centres for complex care have been established, with five regional hubs offering an initial level of service. In addition, perinatal mental health services are being provided in all 19 maternity services across the country," he said.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who took up her seat around half way through the Minister's speech, later told the Dáil that she wanted to send solidarity to "every woman who works minor miracles every day to ensure the bills are paid, the children are fed and her family makes it to the end of the week".
She also highlighted "every woman denied a home who courageously shields her child in emergency accommodation, and every sister who, inspired by the powerful humanity of the women of the CervicalCheck scandal, fights for the dignity of proper healthcare. Ms McDonald added: "We send solidarity to every woman of honour. We stand with women and carers who heroically battle the system for disability services, mental health interventions or vital life-changing surgeries for their children. We sound the clarion call of change for every woman struggling to pay the rent and who stands in the rain at the bus stop every morning to go to a job where she is underpaid."